Inside History Magazine's Top 50 Genealogy Blogs List

I have funny story.

Earlier this week, Inside History Magazine published a list of their top 50 genealogy blogs. 

I subscribe to many genealogy blogs in Australia and New Zealand, which is the target market of this magazine. 

Naturally, there were a lot of happy bloggers who were excited to make the list. I offered many congratulatory comments on their blogs because it's always cool to celebrate with another blogger. 

The funny thing is that when I congratulated one blogger, he told me thanks and said, "Same to you."

Huh?

I've been so busy with my own work and trying to keep up with my genealogy blog reading that I hadn't even looked at the Inside History Magazine Top 50 Genealogy Blogs yet.

So I did.

And there I was.

I might be a little late to the party, but it's an honor to be included. Thank you to the kind folks at Inside History Magazine for the nod. I'd also like to extend a special thanks to the article author, Jill Ball of Geniaus and other genealogy endeavors (or do you spell it endeavours down there?)

It is an honor (honour? I'll get the hang of this) to be included with so many great blogs and bloggers. I follow many Australia and New Zealand genealogy blogs. I've learned so much from them. Some day I'll get down that way and go on a genealogy blogger meet-up tour.

Now I will go on with my day with a smile on my face. This was a nice surprise.

Interview with Geni.com

My mom and I have a running joke of sorts. When one of her children (including sons-in-law) gets his or her name in print, she puts her copy of the publication on the coffee table. This started when my brother-in-law was in a surfing magazine. Basically, you can see the back of his head in a photo of a surf resort, but that counts by mom's rules.

For months, that magazine sat alone on the coffee table. Then I was mentioned in Family Tree Magazine's Top 40 Blogs for 2010. My mom bought a copy and I earned a spot on the coffee table. My brother-in-law countered by being interviewed on television. This trumped my magazine mention and his surfer mag got to be on top of my mom's coffee table magazine stack.

Most of the items I've had published have been online or in print magazines that aren't available to the general public (such as the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly). This has put me at a disadvantage in the great family media competition, and I have to do more.

This week I bring to the table an interview with Geni.com. I've used this site for a while. It holds my family tree, as well as tagged photos of my ancestors. It is a place my family can go look at their history whenever they feel like it.

The staff of the Geni blog asked to interview me earlier this month and I was honored by the consideration. Here is a link to that interview. Granted, it's not in print, but maybe it's enough to get my magazine back on the top of mom's coffee table.

We shall see...

Blog Love from Genea-Musings

What a nice surprise! Randy Seaver of the extremely-popular Genea-Musings blog has featured this not-as-popular (but hopefully getting there) We Tree blog for Follow Friday!

Before this news, the highlight of my day was a propane-tank exchange at the hardware store. Now this day is looking up! Thanks, Randy!

WE made the "Best Of!"

Last week I wrote a post titled From the E-Mail Bag: Help a Reader Out. One reader asked me a question and gave me permission to publish it and my answer. I did so, but asked readers to give their answers, too.

Well that post made Randy Seaver's Best of the Genea-Blogs for the week!

The whole reason that post is valuable is because of all the great comments provided by others. So while I am writing this in part to thank Randy, I am also writing it to congratulate the commenters who deserve top credit for the honor. Y'all are the best part of We Tree in my book!

In the Family Tree Magazine Fab Forty

Wow! I was quite surprised to find out that this little blog was part of a very special group: the Family Tree Magazine 40 Best Genealogy Blogs. You can see the complete list on Diane Haddad's Genealogy Insider blog, as well as a nice write up of each winner by Maureen Taylor.

Thank you to those who voted. I deeply appreciate it. 

I also want to say thank you to my readers and those who leave comments. Your kind words keep my writing brain churning and my blogging mind going. Thank you for your support. 

Now I must go pinch myself. I still can't believe I'm on a list with such an amazing group.

Somebody is Following Me

I have to thank Caliphoenix and her blog Wading in the Gene Pool. She started playing along with the Follow Friday pay-it-forward spirit of blog love today and she chose We Tree as her first recommendation.

It was a very sweet gesture and a nice surprise. Thank you!

As for my own Follow Fridays, they will begin again in January. I didn't want them getting lost in the holiday shuffle (my readership goes down every December, does yours?). Look for them (and my hit count) to return in a couple weeks.

A Family History Expos Honor

Guess where I'm going? I didn't even have time to tell you about my exciting arrangements to attend the Arizona Family History Expo before the organizers went and made me a Blogger of Honor for the event!

I'm honored to be part of such a prolific group. I know some of the other bloggers already and can't wait to meet the rest.

If you're going to be in Mesa on January 22-23, 2010, do let me know so we can meet in person. To everyone else, I promise to keep you informed about the happenings and experiences at this Family History Expo.

Can't attend Mesa? Family History Expos are in several different states throughout the year. Check 'em out.

Family Tree 40 Blog Nomination

I had a nice little surprise come my way yesterday. It seems that this little blog has been nominated to be part of the Family Tree 40!

Yeah, I had to look it up, too. A few weeks back Family Tree Magazine asked readers and web site visitors to tell them about their favorite blogs. Someone nominated We Tree, so to that person I say thank you!

So here is the list of all of the nominees in all of the categories. We Tree is in category #10 Personal / Family blog. It's such a thrill to be in that category among so many good blogs. Feel free to vote for your favorites. You can do so (once a day I think) until November 5. Winners will be listed in the May 2010 issue of the magazine.

I know some of you have voted for me and I deeply appreciate it.

Welcome, Podcast Visitors

I've seen a spike in traffic of visitors from Lisa Louise Cooke's Family History #40 podcast, Why You Need a Blog and How to Do It, Part 1. I'd just like to say welcome to those who clicked through.

Thank you for stopping by my little blog! Let me tell you a little bit about the place: it's a multi-subject genealogy blog. Sometimes I talk about techy things and their relation to genealogy. Sometimes I talk about the personal research I'm doing in the hope that someone else will be looking for the same ancestors. Sometimes I just talk to myself because I like to talk about genealogy.

Hopefully, Lisa's podcast convinced you to start your own genealogy blog. If you feel that you can't measure up to other bloggers, allow me to prove that anyone can blog with the following examples:

1. You don't need to be a master of fine grammar.
I write like I speak, straight from the hip in a conversational tone. I make up words like DARing, which is a verb. It is the act performing research in the DAR databases.

2. You don't have to have a fancy blog layout.
Look at this blog, people. It's got all the color and pizazz of a hotel sheet. I could improve it, but I just haven't had the time. This simple white action gets the job done for now.

3. There are no rules, unless you want rules because it's your blog.
My rule is that I can do whatever I want because it's my blog. I don't have a specific theme because that's not how my genealogy adventures roll. My research is all over the place and so is my blog. I have fun with it. Hopefully others do, too.

4. Genealogists are the nicest people in the world.
The will welcome you, support you, and follow you. All you need to do is take the first step of starting a genealogy blog.

Hopefully my exposure as the least-exciting village idiot of geneabloggers will give you the boost you need to launch your own blog. In all sincerity, the friends I've met, the research strides I've made, and the family tree advancements I've accomplished have made this one of the best experiences of my life. I love what I do. I love writing this blog. And I'd love reading about yours too.

Drop me a line, or leave a comment when you're blog is up and running so I can add it to my Google Reader. Thanks again for visiting We Tree. I hope you'll stick around and see what new discoveries I find and what words I can make up next.

More Blog Love

Caroline Pointer of the Family Stories blog gave me a coveted "One Lovely Blog" award. Thank you!

We Tree in Lights

Greta Koehl picked this blog to show some love in part 1 of her Blog Showcase. I just wanted to say thanks in return.

5,000

I got my 5,000th blog visitor today! (Thank you, unknown reader from New York.)

Pretty amazing, given this blog isn't even old enough to crawl yet.

No post until tomorrow-ish. I'm packing, then leaving. I'm going to a conference, but I set aside the first day as a genealogy adventure. Cross your fingers and wish me luck and pleasant clerks at the San Miguel County, New Mexico court house.

An Award? For Me?

I was given an award! JoLyn of The Mount Timpanogos Graveyard Rabbit was kind enough to honor We Tree with the Kreativ Blogger Award, given to blogs she really enjoys reading. Thanks, JoLyn!

Best of the Genea Blogs

My 52 Weeks of Genealogy Blog Topics two-part post made the Best of the Genea-Blogs for January 4-10. What's more impressive is that I'm among many better known bloggers. It's like being in the locker room with all the big leaguers.

Thanks for the nod, Randy!

Movin' On Up

This blog is now on Cyndi's List. That's kind of a big deal. Cyndi's List is like the massive Wal-Mart corporation of genealogy, and I'm like the inventor going to Bentonville, begging them to sell my product. I must have said something right. Maybe it was my rhyming web site description.

So....yay.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

I Got Awarded!

While I was gone for nine days, I was given an award by Sherri Fenley aka The Educated Genealogist, and Wendy Littrell of All My Branches Genealogy. How cool!

The Proximidade Award states, "These blogs invest and believe in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers, who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Thank you Sheri and Wendy for considering this lil' ol' blog for such high honors.

Now here is where I'm supposed to suggest eight more blogs. I originally got this award from Sheri days ago during my no-blog vacation. Since then, just about everybody has been tagged, so the chain will die with me. But would you expect anything less from a Proximidade Award winner? We're not about prizes! :::wink, wink:::

Get to Know More Genealogy Blogs

Terry Thorton of Hill Country of Monroe County Mississippi issued a "Getting to Know Me" challenge for genealogy bloggers. My submission is here.

Overall, 40 people entered 42 submissions. Terry divided the large number of entries into three parts. Read some if you get the time. There are a lot of wonderful stories out there.

Getting to Know Me, Act 1

Getting to Know Me, Act 2

Getting to Know Me, Act 3

I was lucky enough to land the top spot at the beginning of Act 3. Terry said some wonderful things about this blog and my writing. I truly appreciate and value his praise.

Yipee!

Wow. My Arkansas recaps were listed as part of the Best of the Genea-Blogs: Week of August 10-16. I read Randy Seaver's Genea-Musings regularly, including the best-of columns. It's great to be a part of it.

I wrote those Arkansas pieces for my family. It's nice to see others enjoy them, too.